If you want to win government contracts as a veteran-owned business, your first step isn’t finding contracts or writing proposals. It’s registering on SAM.gov.
SAM.gov — the System for Award Management — is the federal government’s official database of businesses eligible to receive contracts. If you’re not registered in SAM, you don’t exist to the government. No registration means no contracts. Period.
The good news is that registration is free. The bad news is that the process is confusing, the website is clunky, and small mistakes can delay your registration by weeks. This guide walks you through every step so you get it right the first time.
What Is SAM.gov?
SAM.gov is the single system the federal government uses to manage information about businesses that want to do business with the government. It replaced several older systems including the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) and ORCA.
When a contracting officer searches for potential vendors for a government contract, they search SAM.gov. When a prime contractor looks for a veteran-owned subcontractor, they search SAM.gov. When an agency verifies that a business is eligible for SDVOSB set-aside contracts, they check SAM.gov.
Your SAM.gov registration is your license to play. Without it, nothing else matters.
Before You Start: What You’ll Need
Gather everything on this list before you begin the registration. Stopping mid-process to track down a document is how registrations get abandoned or delayed.
An EIN (Employer Identification Number) — This is your business tax ID from the IRS. If you don’t have one, apply for free at IRS.gov. You’ll receive it immediately online. Do not use your Social Security number — get an EIN even if you’re a sole proprietor.
A DUNS number or UEI — SAM.gov has transitioned from DUNS numbers to the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). If you’re registering for the first time, SAM will assign you a UEI during the process. If you had an existing DUNS number, it has already been migrated to a UEI.
Your business bank account information — SAM requires your bank’s routing number, account number, and account type. This is for Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) so the government can pay you directly.
Your business address — The physical address of your business. If you work from home, your home address works. A PO Box does not.
NAICS codes — North American Industry Classification System codes identify what type of work your business does. You can search for your relevant codes at census.gov/naics. Pick every code that applies to services you can provide. You can always add more later.
Your business structure — Sole proprietorship, LLC, S-Corp, etc. Know your entity type and your state of incorporation.
A notarized letter (for Entity Administrator) — SAM now requires identity verification for the person managing the registration. This involves a notarized letter confirming your identity and authority to represent the business. The system will walk you through generating this letter.
Step 1: Create a Login.gov Account
SAM.gov uses Login.gov for authentication. If you don’t already have a Login.gov account, you’ll need to create one.
Go to login.gov and click “Create an account.” Use your business email address — not a personal Gmail or Yahoo account. You’ll need to set up two-factor authentication, so have your phone ready.
If you already have a Login.gov account from other government services (VA.gov, USAJOBS, etc.), you can use the same account. Just make sure it’s associated with an email address you check regularly — SAM sends important notifications and validation requests to this email.
Step 2: Start Your Entity Registration
Go to SAM.gov and sign in with your Login.gov credentials. Click “Get Started” under Entity Registration.
SAM will ask you a series of questions about your business. Answer them carefully.
Purpose of registration — Select “I want to be able to bid on federal contracts.” If you also want to receive federal grants, select that option as well.
Entity type — Select your business structure (LLC, sole proprietorship, corporation, etc.).
Business location — Enter your physical business address. This must match what’s on file with the IRS for your EIN.
The system will either locate your existing UEI or assign you a new one. This can take a few minutes. Don’t close the browser.
Step 3: Enter Your Core Business Information
This section covers the basics of your business.
Legal business name — Must match exactly what’s registered with your state and the IRS. If your LLC is registered as “Smith Services LLC” don’t enter “Smith Services.”
Doing Business As (DBA) — If you operate under a different name, enter it here. Otherwise, leave it blank.
Business start date — The date you officially started operating or were incorporated.
Fiscal year end — Most small businesses use December 31. Enter whatever matches your tax filings.
Physical address — Your actual business location. This becomes public information in the SAM database.
Mailing address — Can be different from your physical address if needed.
Step 4: Enter Your NAICS Codes and SBA Size Standards
This section tells the government what services you provide and whether you qualify as a small business.
NAICS codes — Add every code that describes work your business can perform. Cast a wide net here. If you offer IT consulting, janitorial services, and project management, add codes for all three. You can search for codes within the SAM interface.
Primary NAICS code — Select the one code that best represents your main line of business. This is the code the government uses when determining if you qualify as a small business for specific contracts.
SBA size standards — Each NAICS code has a size standard (either revenue-based or employee-based) that determines whether you’re considered a small business for that type of work. SAM will display the applicable size standard. As a new veteran-owned business, you’ll almost certainly qualify as small.
Step 5: Set Up Financial Information
Enter your banking details for Electronic Funds Transfer. This is how the government pays you when you win contracts.
Bank routing number — The nine-digit number for your bank.
Account number — Your business checking account number.
Account type — Checking or savings. Use your business checking account.
Double-check these numbers. An error here means payment delays on any contracts you win.
Step 6: Enter Your Representations and Certifications
This is the most important section for veteran-owned businesses.
Veteran-owned status — Indicate that your business is veteran-owned. If you have a service-connected disability rating, indicate that your business is service-disabled veteran-owned.
Small business certifications — Check every box that applies. For most veteran entrepreneurs, this includes small business, veteran-owned small business, and if applicable, service-disabled veteran-owned small business.
Other representations — SAM will ask about your business’s compliance with various federal requirements (drug-free workplace, lobbying restrictions, etc.). Read each one carefully and answer honestly. Most are straightforward certifications that small businesses easily meet.
Important note on SDVOSB: Checking the SDVOSB box in SAM.gov is a self-certification. To be officially verified — which is required for VA-specific SDVOSB set-aside contracts — you need to go through the SBA’s VetCert program. SAM registration and VetCert verification are two separate processes, and you need both.
Step 7: Complete Identity Verification
SAM now requires entity administrators to verify their identity. This involves generating a notarized letter through the SAM system, getting it notarized, and uploading it back.
The process takes a few extra days because you need to visit a notary. Many banks, UPS stores, and shipping centers offer notary services for $5 to $15. Some states allow online notarization.
Don’t skip this step. Your registration won’t go active until identity verification is complete.
Step 8: Review and Submit
Before submitting, review every section of your registration. Check for typos in your business name, verify your EIN and bank account numbers, and confirm your NAICS codes.
Once you submit, SAM processes your registration. This typically takes 7 to 10 business days, but can take longer during busy periods. You’ll receive email notifications at each stage.
After your registration is active, you’ll receive a CAGE code (Commercial and Government Entity code) — this is another identifier the government uses for your business.
After Registration: What to Do Next
Set a renewal reminder. Your SAM registration must be renewed every 365 days. If it lapses, you become ineligible for contracts until you renew. Set a calendar reminder for 30 days before expiration.
Get VetCert verified. SAM registration alone doesn’t give you access to SDVOSB set-aside contracts. You need to apply through the SBA’s VetCert program for official verification. Read our full guide on SDVOSB government contracting for the complete process.
Start searching for contracts. Once your SAM registration is active, you can search for contract opportunities at SAM.gov under the “Contract Opportunities” section (formerly FedBizOpps). Filter by NAICS code, set-aside type, and agency to find opportunities that match your business.
Build your capability statement. This is a one-page document that summarizes your business, past performance, NAICS codes, certifications, and contact information. Government contracting officers and prime contractors expect to see this. It’s your resume for government work.
Connect with prime contractors. Many large government contracts require prime contractors to subcontract a percentage of work to small businesses, including SDVOSBs. Reach out to prime contractors in your industry and offer your services as a subcontractor. This is the fastest way to build past performance and contract history.
Common SAM.gov Mistakes to Avoid
Using a personal email — Use a business email address. It looks more professional and keeps government correspondence separate from your personal inbox.
Mismatched business name — Your legal name in SAM must match your IRS records exactly. Even small differences (like “LLC” vs “L.L.C.”) can cause validation errors.
Not renewing on time — Your registration expires after one year. If it lapses, you can’t receive contracts or payments until you renew. This has cost real businesses real money.
Paying someone to register — SAM.gov registration is 100% free. There are companies that charge hundreds or thousands of dollars to “help” you register. Some are legitimate consultants, but many are scams targeting new business owners. You can do this yourself.
Skipping the notarized letter — Your registration will sit in pending status indefinitely until identity verification is complete. Get the letter notarized and uploaded as soon as possible.
How SAM.gov Fits Into Your Wealth-Building Strategy
Government contracting is one of the most overlooked wealth-building tools available to veterans. The federal government spends over $600 billion annually on contracts, and a significant portion is set aside specifically for small businesses and SDVOSBs.
SAM.gov registration is step one. It costs nothing, takes about an hour of your time plus a few days for processing, and opens the door to an entirely separate revenue stream that most veterans never explore.
Combined with starting a business with minimal capital and understanding how VA disability affects your taxes, government contracting can become a serious income engine.
For a complete overview of every financial move veterans should make, start with The Ultimate Veteran Financial Checklist.